Issue - meetings

1.     That the Council’s response and submission to the Government White Paper ‘Planning for the Future’ consultation issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government be approved, as set out in Appendix 1 of report CAB3262.

2.     That the City Council explore in principle working as a pilot authority with central government to develop a new-style local plan for Winchester City Council.

3.        That the City Council seek a meeting with the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government with a view to seeking clarification about how the City Council can progress a local plan bearing in mind the significant increase in housing numbers that are proposed in the government’s consultation document.

4.     That delegated authority be awarded to the Strategic Planning Manager in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Built Environment and Wellbeing to make minor and typographical updates to the consultation response in Appendix 1.

Councillor Porter introduced the report and thanked officers for their work, together with the input from other councillors.  The proposals had been considered at a meeting of the Local Plan Advisory Group which had also supported the proposal to seek to become a pilot authority.

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillors Hutchison and Horrill addressed Cabinet as summarised briefly below.

Councillor Hutchison

Supported the council’s response as set out in the appendix to the report.  The Winchester Town Forum had also prepared a response which she considered complemented the Council’s response.  Highlighted that work on preparing the Vision for Winchester document was underway.

Councillor Horrill

Generally supported the proposed response whilst raising a number of detailed points seeking to change the emphasis slightly.  For example, the importance of employment should be emphasised more.  Supported the possibility of the Council becoming a pilot authority.

Councillor Porter thanked the Councillors for their support and responded to a number of points raised.

Cabinet agreed the following for the reasons set out above and outlined in the report.

RESOLVED:

1.            That the Council’s response and submission to the Government White Paper ‘Planning for the Future’ consultation issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government be approved, as set out in Appendix 1 of report CAB3262.

2.            That the City Council explore in principle working as a pilot authority with central government to develop a new-style local plan for Winchester City Council.

3.            That the City Council seek a meeting with the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government with a view to seeking clarification about how the City Council can progress a local plan bearing in mind the significant increase in housing numbers that are proposed in the government’s consultation document.

4.            That delegated authority be awarded to the Strategic Planning Manager in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Built Environment and Wellbeing to make minor and typographical updates to the consultation response in Appendix 1.